What a world we live in when an Indian company needs US government approval to buy two British companies. No sweat off of Tata's brow, though, as federal antitrust regulators cleared the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover, which Ford is selling to the Indian automaker. The transaction was reviewed by the US Federal Trade Commission to ensure no antitrust issues would arise, but the procedural review ultimately yielded no cause to block the sale. Congratulations, Tata.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
inteller @ Apr 24th 2008 8:14AM
well I know there certainly won't be any TRUST issues now....nevermind about antitrust.
looking forward to the LR Nano in 2010. Its offroad capabilities will consist of pushing it off a cliff and letting it roll down.
Chris @ Apr 24th 2008 9:21AM
Its not like Land Rover's quality can get worse
kashyaphlk @ Apr 24th 2008 9:22AM
I really dont understand the nano bashing. Any knowledgeable person would appreciate the technological and management capabilities of Tata in achieving what he promised to the Indian people couple of years back.
I would rather make fun of numerous patents which Gm/ford file every year and yet don't give what the americans really want in their garages.
Nano is not for the western world, it is developed for those who cram their entire family on a two wheeler. Get some commonsense.
Dazza @ Apr 24th 2008 9:29AM
I suspect the Nano is the only Tata that Inteller has ever heard of.
Sandy @ Apr 24th 2008 10:11AM
The ONLY problem, as I see it:
Mr. Jones is a high end buyer. He is considering a Mercedes S Class, a BMW 7 Series, An Audi A8 and a Jaguar XJ. He is pretty much open minded to any.
Now, he knows and respects the market value, in America, for Audi, for BMW, and for Mercedes. Now, while he also respects Jaguar, he hears that it's owned by Tata. What panache and/or status come to mind when one hears Tata? Zip. Nada.
Jaguar of Europe or The British Motorcar does have some statue, but Tata ??
Face facts. NOBODY needs a $90,000 car. People buy $90,000 cars to impress others and enjoy a fine prestiegious automobile. They do not associate such with a name of Tata.
Now, Tata may be a fabulous organization of talent and ability, but here in the USA, it is virtually unknown.
Question. Does anyone know what or whom know owns Aston Martin ?? Aston & Jag were partners. What Now ??
Dude @ Apr 24th 2008 10:37AM
@Sandy
The same thing was said when lowly Ford purchased Jag and LR.
Spiel @ Apr 24th 2008 12:27PM
@Sandy
Your argument is somewhat flawed. In your reasoning, why would anyone want to buy an Austin Martin since it's owned by Kuwaiti's. It's not designed or put together in Kuwait, and the same applies to Jaguar. Actually, being owned by Tata is much better than being owned by Ford, since it is less likely for Jaguar to use more Ford parts (down the road that is).
Tata doesn't have parts to plug into a Jaguar, unless they make a Jaguar truck. The only thing Tata has to offer Jaguar/LR is a lot of $$$$.
tikijj @ Apr 25th 2008 3:06AM
I could see why sandy's comment may seem shallow to some people, but i have to say i agree with sandy on this one. True, similar things have been said when ford took over Jag, LR, and especially Aston. But are we really going to compare Ford with Tata? Really? Claiming Tata's ownership of Aston is better than Ford's is at the very best, speculative... Say what you wanna say about Aston's sharing components with cheap Ford cars, but you can't deny the fact that Aston turned around under Ford's ownership. The same could be said about LR and Jag. If you or anyone you know ever owned a car from aforementioned companies, you know they had some major quality issues before Ford ownership. Aston's, i can't afford. But both Jag and LR i've owned in the past. As shallow as i might sound.. spending BMW, Merc money on Tata... i can't picture myself doing that.
Kevin @ Apr 24th 2008 10:23AM
"Tank ew, cooom ah gain!"
What an interesting name, Tata. Indians are cheap and the quality they select is always poor.
Those of us in the retail world know how stingy and how penny pinching these individuals can be.
After all is said and done (with what I posted), the question remains, why didn't Ford sell Ford? HAHAHA.
Tata will build garbage. Expect the price of Jaguar and LR vehicles to decrease or their sales to decrease.
kashyaphlk @ Apr 24th 2008 10:53AM
Yeah, when you have someone coming to a resource wasting country(read US) from a third world country, they know the value of money which means life to a few. Most of the luxuries they see here sound foolish to them, like you having a super store for your dog while they have seen people living in low standards since their birth. Thats what makes them think before they spend in the retail world.
And now coming to your statement of "Indians are cheap and quality they select is poor" You are completely wrong there, they or for the matter most Asian people select what is "worth the money you are paying" for. They are buying 2500$ car, but its definitely worth more every penny of it.
At least almost all of them have respectable jobs and earn their bread legally. Civilization!! anyone??
Fatima @ Apr 24th 2008 12:36PM
you..my friend are a douche.
Guess which demographic has the highest income in the US? Indians and Asians. They work hard and make more money and spend it wisely instead of wasting it on frivolous things.
"Tata will build garbage. Expect the price of Jaguar and LR vehicles to decrease or their sales to decrease."
Tata will not build anything, they are just providing the finances. Jaguar and LR will retain their employees, factories, and designers.
Dev @ Apr 24th 2008 3:26PM
I feel sorry for people like you... did you lose your job to an Indian? They are more efficient than you buddy... accept it and enjoy the attention you are getting for your stupid comments.
Kevin @ Apr 24th 2008 6:46PM
They ARE cheap. NOTHING will change that. They are PENNY PINCHERS - nothing will change that.
They don't care about quality. They let their people starve while cows roam their streets freely. They are uncivilized, they demand discounts on EVERYTHING, are dirty, leave a mess wherever they go and care about no one and nothing except their hoards of wealth.
Since they are so loaded, why are they so cheap? Money is a medium of exchange. If all they are exchanging are unreasonable demands and insane expectations (highest quality for least amount of money), but aren't willing to pay the money they need to, what incentive have they left anyone to want to give service to them?
This is MY opinion. MINE, MINE, MINE!!!! I own it, am happy to have it and I'm sticking to it. And my opinion is shared by the majority even though they don't have the balls to say it.
If you play the game, either follow the rules or get the hell out!
kashyaphlk @ Apr 25th 2008 11:00AM
You sure lost your job to an Indian ha? Looks like..
Yes, play the game by the rules; but you already lost!
Dazza @ Apr 24th 2008 11:11AM
Sandy: how many punters in the real world knew (or even cared) that LR and Jaguar were owned by Ford? Tata is basically a bread-and-butter marque just as Ford is.
I also wonder how many punters knew that Burger King was for many years until recently owned by the same British conglomerate that owns Guinness.
Dazza @ Apr 24th 2008 11:14AM
Tata will take the place of Ford in owning the share certificates of the two companies that are Land Rover and Jaguar. LR's and Jaguar's designers, engineers, and production facilities are unlikely to change.
Dot heads @ Apr 24th 2008 4:58PM
The US Govt. is stupid once again by letting a bunch of Indians by products own by a US company. Ford should have never sold it to the red dotted head people but used them as source for money.
I don't care what liberals call me, look how Carter F up things....
Dazza @ Apr 25th 2008 12:40PM
Perhaps you should at least learn to spell properly first before making such sensationalist statements.
Dazza @ Apr 25th 2008 7:49AM
Tikijj: quality control has nothing to do with who owns the share certificates. LR and Jaguar design, develop, engineer and build their own products - they always have. An owner/parent company is simply there providing financial backing and making high level global decisions.
Tata has a huge amount of money to throw around, and their rate of expansion is testament to their business acumen. They're into everything from car and truck manufacture to steel production to tea-making. Contrast this with Ford, who have been suffering in the marketplace since before their acquisition of LR and Jaguar.
Just because Tata isn't some high street name in the USA doesn't mean they have no capabilities to see LR and Jaguar to success. Sorry, but your insinuation is just arrogant.
Oh, and Aston Martin isn't owned by Tata.
tikijj @ Apr 25th 2008 10:01PM
I stand corrected on the Tata-Aston ownership.
Moving on. How does Ford's prior ownership of LR and Jag not affect how the two companies ran? It is a little different from just "owning share certificates", Ford was the major shareholder. When a corporation entity takes over another crippling corporation, they don't do it so that they can poor more money to the same management or system who've crippled the company to begin with. Do you really think corporations invest millions of dollar in subsidiary brands to have no say on how they are run? Please, i can see you are trying to make your case, but Ford had everything to do with LR and Jag's quality control improvements. With that said though, from what i understand,Tata's R&D is no joke either. Still, as abysmal as Ford's quality control have in recent memory, nobody will yet compare Ford with Tata just yet. I'm mainly making an argument about image though. As much i do not like to admit it, i don't know that i'd consider spending BMW or Merc money on Tata owned Jag or LR. Nothing personal dude, but when you are paying premium for cars... you not only expect quality, but prestige and image as well.